Incy-wincy SPIDER!

I realise that this photo might be some peoples' idea of pure hell but, for me, it was a wonderful discovery today. AND, even better, no spiders were harmed in the making of this display. Really (as you'll see)! I spent today at Glasgow University attending the Freshwater Biological Association's Annual Conference, the first time it has been held in Scotland. We were using the University's zoology museum, the Hunterian, as the gathering space for coffee and lunch and this display was in the room. It is a collection of the cast skins from a single Mexican red-kneed tarantula spider. As a spider grows, it has to split and fast-off the old skin that had become too small for it. The tarantula is owned by a member of museum staff, who has collected each (progressively larger) skin in turn. The spider was born in 2001, is still alive and may live to be 30 years of age. And these skins are ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Get over any fear you have of spiders (its a rational fear, left over from our evolutionary history, but get over it) and really look at this magnificent and largely harmless creature.